Self-acting closure for receptacles



June 3, 1,930. A. HAMMERSTEIN 1,760,946

SELF ACTING CLOSURE FOR RECEPTACLES Filed ot. 5. 1928 76 B Y f v aL/Mlm? l A froze/VE M5 v 20 features ofnovelty Patented June A3,`

' faminim Ifinirfnnnsrnino roam NLYQ snnnriicrinefonosnnn'nonnncniirnenns.'f l i a closure'ofsimple construction Wherebytlie receptaclefis `automatically and efficiently sealed againstthe admission of moisture andr A 1 0 to prevent unintentional expulsion of its con-` The invention contemplates l. `further the provision of a closurer constructed in a l' tents'.

manner to prevent interference vvithits efciency.; of operation ybecause ofj` physicalV L5 ,changes in the contents of the receptacle or .resulting from the actiongofsaidcontents on said closure.;l

Other more specific objectsfvvill appear from the description hereinafter andl the will -be pointed out lin the appendedlclaims. a Y 1 Intheaecompanying dravving, which illustrates aneXample ofthe .inventionnwithout defining its limits, Fig." 1f is a sectional elei- 25 vation'showing a saltcellar vequipped With the closure, the parts being inposition to .perv`4 vmitv the contents `of the yreceptacle to be p eX- pelled ;`Fig.v2.is an exterior elevation with the parts in the normalsealing position, and Fig.

i Y Vv3 0 3 is aV vhorizontal rsectionon the line `3---3 ofFig. l. 4 o o As shown in the drawing, theclosure comlprisesa' tubular.` member -5 which is preferably cylindrical in form, although this is not more practical.` The tubular member vis open at its opposite endsandis provided with an external annular flange 6,7and`fWi-th" an 40 axial extension 7'screwthreaded' externally the closureis designed; The tubular memberl 5 isfurther preferably provided with an an-A nular flange 8 comprising an axial continua- Y tion of the screvvthreaded extension'? and in any case is constructedto permit the eXpulj sion of the contents of said receptacle at Will; Y

, the closure accordingly is shownin the draw#` ings as provided in its peripheral Wall'vvith 'telescopically mounted Y upon the tubular the vexit openingor. .openings/,Q from the in- Y Y iside.l Thelsleeve 10 is constructedtovbring ythe eit opening-or openings 9V or equivalent essential,y as any'other suitable cross-sectional` shape may be ,substituted *if` desired, or found for'connection With the receptaclefor'vvhich e fstance in the formfof afisolidportionf12` as one ormore exit openings v9, which may beofy arrangementv of any suitable andpredetermned form janddimensions suitable to permitthe contents tobe freely expelled from lthe receptacle-at Will. The :closure furtherincludes y'sealing 'means' member 51so 'as to beairiallyslidable-upon the v same" in surface .engagement Witlifboth the vinner andouter surfaces of -said member-f5, 1 I and adapted to normally-closeand seal 'the v v i 'exitopening, both from the inside andfrom I thejoutside, as shovvnri'n Figli; inladditionvto its telescopic axial.y movement-s, the 'sealing means isconstructed and-.arranged to rotate upon saidtubular member',5,7co1nc1dentally `With itsf'aXial movementson the member f Inthevillustrated e xample',xtliissealing means t comprises a sleeve 10 `axially;slidable Within the tubular:memberv 5 4and arranged 'to knor.- mally `Vproject' inwardly beyond 'and close devicesginto communication. with -theinterior Y Y ofi-the,receptaclejwhen it iis desired tofexpel either alllor apartL of v'the' contents thereof 75 and in; theI drawings fis accordingly provided 1 y withVVV exit` aperturesfl'l 'similari' in rform and dimensions and ,Corresponding` in number itoL ,theeexit openings 9 the-enit apertures'll lare located and arrangedgonthesleevelOfso thatSO o i inthe.,11ormal -positionof the latter, said lapertures'. Will belout` of registryvvith theexit openings9 When the parts are in theposifn .tion shown in-Fig. 2.2` The crosssectional form of thelsleevefl() corresponds tothatof S5 the-tubular member' 5', anditsdimensions are s' 'o such'thatit' vvigll snugly t'theinterior ofjsaidf y member 5 Y in' fr'iction'alv surface engagement "therevvith, as shovvn;ilijligs';y 1 and Sag-'the' inner ,end of vthesleeve 10 Ais open, .Whileits 90 outer end is closed,andcontinuedffor -inthegtnbular member ySand arranged to move 95V l as, a unit with .thesleeve `10, said-,hood 13,r iny the lvillustrated example, comprising a sepa-` e rate shell Vsuitably*'conneeted with Vsaid'fsleeve 10, for instzllnceyas shown inl Fig'l. The I the `illustratedform of the y100 closure is such that an annular groove 14 is formed between the hood 13 and sleeve 10,

` the upper end portion ofsaid groove 14 eX-V tending beyond the inner end surface of the solid portion 12 as shown in Fig. 1 the groove 14 is dimensioned to receive the tubular member so as to provide a closed chamber beyond the outer end of said' tubularmember' whichl chamber has no communication with the interior of said tubular member 10 when the parts are assembled.' The h'ood 13 accord*-V l ing-ly fits the external surface of the tubular member in frictional engagement therewith and is'dimensioned so thatl the Aexit openings 9 will be covered or closed from the outside by said hood 13 when theV parts are in the normal position as shown in F ig. 2. YThe hood A13 is constructed topermit removal o f the vcontentsof the receptacle when this 1s desired, and, as sho-wn in the drawing, is formed with a plurality of recesses 15 corresponding in number to the openings'9 and-located so as to uncover the exit openings 9 when the parts 4occupy the position `shown in Fig. 1.

To provide the .desired rotation of the sleeve and hood 13 about the tubular member 5, the illustratedexample of the invention shows the latter provided with an inclined slot-Q16V located yin diagonal relation tothe axis of the closure as shown in Fig. 2. 'A

pin :17 is 'carried' by the hood-13 and extends into the slot 16 so that as the hood 13 and sleeve'lO are axially'ortelescopically shifted on the member 5, the co-'operating action of the pin 17 and slot 16 will rotate the hood 13 and with it the sleeve 10 relatively to the member 5; in the drawings theV pin 17 consists of asmall screw` which passes through the slot 16 intothreaded engagement with the'sleeve 10, it being understood that any Y other `arrangei'nent whereby equivalent re;

' sultsare obtained maybe'substituted if de-V sired. The closure further includes a `coil spring 18 llocated in the chamber a of the annular groove 14 having one end in engagement with the outer end ofthe tubular member 5 and its other end in contact withthe outer end fwall -ofthe groove 14 as shown in Fig. Vith this'arrangement the coil spring 18 is completely enclosed within the closure and completely isolated or separated from the in- `teriorof the sleeve 19in all positions of the y the sleeve 10 fory instance by being crimped at its periphery 20 over a peripheral bead 21 with which saidsleeve is provided as shown in Fig. 1. The arrangement is such that the cap 19 is loose with respect to the sleeve 10 and hood'13v and under the pressure developed `by the thumb or linger in forcing the sleeve 1() and hood 13 toward the receptacle 23 is held against rotationwithout interfering with rotation of said sleeve and hood and thus constitutes a non-rotating bearing against which the pressure of the thumb or finger of the user is eective. The rotative movement-s of the hood 13 and sleeve l0 are thus permitted to take place without interference and without effect upon said thumb or finger.` To reduce the possibility of the cap 19- binding upon the portion 12 of the sleeve ,10, said portion 12, at its upper end, may beI formed with a bearing point 22 engaging the cap 19 at its centre and constitutngwhatmay be termed a pivot therefor.

The closure is combined with the receptacle 23 forv which it is designed by being'screwed into the open end thereof, as 'shown in Fig. 1. In vthe preferred arrangement, the receptacle 23 is provided at vits open end with an internally, screwthreaded metallic collar 24, suitably secured to the receptacle and arranged toreceive the'threaded portion 7 of the' closure. In the final position ofthe closure on the receptacle 23, theannular flange 6 rests in surface engagement with the end surface of the metallic ring 24 and thereby produces an absolutely moisture proof connection between the closure and the'r receptacle 23 at this point, AIf desired, a suitable packing may be located between the flange 6 and the ring 24 to still further guard against the entrance offmoistur'e Vinto" the receptacle 23. The latter maybe ofany suitable shape orv dimensions, best adapted for the purposes forV which it is designed and in the illustrated example typifies a conventional salt cellar.

In the normal position of the parts shown in Fig. 2, the exit openings 9 are securely sealed from the inside by the sleeve 10 and from `the outside by the hood 13, whilethe slot `16 is likewise securely closed from the inside the sleeve 10 and preferably also from the outside by thehood 1n any case moisture' is absolutely prevented from reachingthe interior cf the" receptacle 23 through the exit openings 9 and the slot 16.

-' pressure and outward'loy|` the lspring 18 whenff the pressure is removed, they will develop4 a rubbing contact on the inner and outer sur-Iv When it Vis Idesired*y to {remove afpartor all of i rthe contents of i the..v receptacle 23, ja pressure fis exerted upon thecap I19to telescopicallyor axially movethe hood13'and` sleeve 10 lengthwise of the tubular member 5 against' the ten-r sion of thel spring 18; during suchv axial operation,V the pin will .travel lengthwise` 'i or' the slot-"16 Aand in co-operatiourtherewithV `will bring -about ajrotation -of thehood 13` and sleeve 10 on the member.` These movements, both "axial androtativefyvill continue until the pin 17 reachesfthe loweri end of the slot'1f6. ln'this positionof the parts, which isillustrated in Fig. 1,ftheexit'aperturesl 11'l are in conterminous registry `with the `exit openings V9, so that asmuch ofthe contents n 'of the receptacle 23 as 1s deslredmaybe re moved by simply inverting the receptacle and either shaking `VoutJ the contents ,or jsiinpl'y permitting the latter tollow-out throughfany of the'registering openings '9j and 1,1 -by gravity. vWhen the'desired amount of the contents of the receptaclef23 has been eXpelled`,' pressure is simply'removed from the cap 19 to permit the' spring 18 to automaticallyfre-I store the parts to the sealing yposition shown inFigj2. theho'od13 and sleeve VV10 are axially and rotatively Vmoved vinward under faces of the member 5 and thereby thoroughly clean the same'by scrapingl any ofthe contents of the/receptacle 23 which may have ad# hered thereto; any other material which .may`

clinggto said surfaces 'of the member 5 will be similarly removed with the result that the closure is maintained Vatjall times'in' a condi? tion of maximum einciency.

The construction of the closure and-its com-v bination with the receptacle 23 are such that operation of the device may easily be'bro'ught about by grasping the receptaclein the palm andv fingers of the hand and using the thumb upon the cap 19 to pressthe hoody 13 and sleeve 10 inwardly against the tension ,of the spring 18. The parts are thus held in their inner position'without ei'ort onthe part of the user, and at'the same time the receptacle 23 is comfortably held in a position'to permit it to be easily inverted and the contents to' be veasily removedin the desired-amount In` other words, the inward pressing of theparts and the removal ofthe'contents are easily accomplished without requiring' any .y special manipulation' of the receptacle 23 other than perhaps a shaking movement which maybe f necessary to bring about the expulsion of the contents. The closure isspecially adapted for'use with receptacles designed to'contain salt, sugar and other pulverizedfmaterials'l likely to become'caked bythe action of moisture or otherwise effected to interferewith the granular or pulverized form thereof.

The closure requires no particular skill .in

Aoped bythe'contents'of the receptacle 23),',A V i ,y Y, lVariouschanges inthe'spe'cilictormsshois7 of the' claims vwithout departingffromffrthe-VJ f 1 its operation, and'may be readilyv combinedk,4

with and i removed from lthe receptacle i tor v`which it isdesigned, vandinits preferred 'formyn 5,

may be disassembled should this orany; reaf son become necessaryllThe springL 187er its Vequivalent is at all times 'protect'ednagainstiv`v any destructiye action which mayl 'be devel.-

and deSfCI-bed' may boinade withinfthe scope Spill't Off the invention@ 5- 'Y v I claim:4 .i

n 1. A closure otheikinddescribed so inga tubular member adaptedto vbe secured toy yareceptacle a-ndprovided with anexit open# ing and with aninclinedslotv in its peripheral wall,v a sleeve axially slidablewithinsaid'tu bular member andln'orm ally closing said exit and sleeve are'rotated on saidtubularmember f f sleeve into 'alignment with theexit opening of 'said tubularmember and to causes'aid -hood coincidentally with their f axial i movementsl 'l thereon to bring the exit-aperture of`r said .to uncoversaid exit openingyand a coil spring ineilgagement withsaidtubular member and v 'if I .located between said'sleeveand-hood sov asto i be completely enclosed `thereby'frtor normally maintaining Zthe sleeve and hood in: anouter is clos'ed'by said hood.

Y 2; A.-C1Qsure er the kind deserted 1 ons fprislngca tubularmember adapted to .besef cured to a yreceptacle and provided "with an exit opening vin itsi'peripheral wall, a vsleeve axially slidable withinsaidltubular member.4 vand'normally closing said'exitopening from A 1.05, A position -andor `returning -them thereto9 v1 Y wherebysaid exitaperture isi normally lout of( 1 registryrwith'said-exit opening and thelatter the'k insideQmeans for* rotating said sleeve v about its. axis throughout its axial movements,

saidsleeve beingprovided' with anexit apl erture adapted to be 'brought into `registryy with said exit openingV by anfaxial and rotative movement ofsaid sleeve fonsaid'tubular normally 1 sealing l said `exit. opening trom the Y outside," said means :being :movable axially.

and? rotatively. .with )said sleeve. and being provided withfa'recesstogrfree said opening from the outside, and a; spring. located'rvbe- Q '.tweenfsaid external means and said .sleeve-in( engagement-,Withthe'tubular member andibeef Vmember,- means vmovable in 'external si'irface` kengagement lwith said-*tubular member l'and' ingfis'olated from the interior of the latter for normally maintaining thesleeve and said er;-

v 1 Vternal means in anouter position and for re- 1 turning them thereto whereby said exit openmg is normally closed both from the inside and outside. l f 3. A closure of the kind described con'iprising a tubular member adapted to be secured to a receptacle Vand provided lwith an exit opening-'in' its peripheral Wall, sealing means axially slidable upon the tubular member in surface engagement with Vboth the inner and outer surfaces thereon and adapted to nor- ',ing'simultaneously from the inside and out side,V means whereby said seal-ing means is rotated about its aXis throughout its axial movements',A the aXial.V and rotative movements of said sealing means relatively to said tubular member serving to shift said interior aperture andV exterior recess into and out of regristryrwith said exit opening and an internal spring located Within said sealing means and completely enclosed thereby for vnormally maintaining said sealing means in position to seal said'eXit opening and for returning `it to said position.'v v

4. A closure of the kind described comprisi ing a tubular member adapted to be secured to a receptacle and provided With an exit opening in its peripheral Wall, sealing means air- Vially slidable and coincidentally rotatable upon the tubular member in surface engagevment with both the inner and outer surfaces thereof and adapted to normally close said exit opening both from the inside and the outside, lsaid sealing means being provided with interior and exterior apertures adapted to brought into simultaneous registry With said exit opening to free the sameboth from ool the inside and outside, and means located internally of said closure and completely enclosed thereby for normally maintaining said sealing means in position to seal said exit opening and for returning it thereto.

V5; A closure ofthe kind described comprising a tubular member vadapted to be secured to a receptacle and provided with van eXit opening in its peripheral Wall, sealing means provided with an annular internal 'groove whereby itv is telescopically mounted upon said member for normally sealing said exit opening both from the inside and from the outside, `said sealing means being provided with interior and exterior apertures'adapted to bebrought into simultaneous registry With said exit opening to `free the same both from the inside and outside, means for rotating saidfsealing means coincidentally with its telescopic movements on said member Whereby said' exit opening is opened and closed at will, anda spring in said annular groove bearing against said tubular member and coinpletelyseparated Jfrom the interiorthereof, for normally maintaining said sealing means in position to close said eXit opening and for returning it to said position.

6. A' closure of thelrind described comprising a tubular member adapted to be secured to a receptacle andV provided With an exit opening in its peripheral Wall, sealing means telescopically mounted upon said member for normally sealing said exit opening both from the inside andthe outside, said sealing means being provided with interior and exterior ap ertures adapted to be brought into simultaneous registry with said Vexit opening to free the Vsaine both from the inside and outside, means for rotating said sealing means coincidentally With its telescopic movements on said member whereby said exit `opening is opened and closed at Will, a spring whereby said seal* ing means is maintained in and Areturned to its normal position, and a cap loosely mounted on said sealing means and constituting a non-rotating bearing for the thumb or liinger Whereby'said sealing means is manipulated against the tension of said spring.

ln testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

' ARTHUR` HAMMERSTEN. 

